Your Valley Health Care Team

August 28, 2018

There are hundreds of caregiving roles filled by highly trained, specialized
employees who work both directly with patients and behind the scenes at
Valley Health. Get to know the members of your care team by exploring
the descriptions below.

Physicians—Primary care physicians (who may be trained in family medicine,
internal medicine or pediatrics) are the primary medical contact for most
patients. Treating patients for new and ongoing illnesses, chronic conditions
or nonemergency injuries, their focus is on checkups and preventive care.
Hospitalists provide care oversight to inpatients, offering continuity
of care during a hospital stay. Specialists have expertise in disease-
or organ-specific treatments and diagnoses due to additional training
and board certification in, for example, cardiology, urology or dermatology.

Physician Assistants (PAs)—These licensed healthcare providers work under the supervision of
a physician and conduct exams, order tests, diagnose and treat illness,
write prescriptions, and advise patients about preventive care.

Nurse Practitioners (NPs)—These nurses order tests, treat chronic and acute conditions and
provide preventive care while working closely with physicians.

Nurses/Registered Nurses (RNs)—These professionals manage and implement the care plan for patients
in hospitals, physician practices and other settings, and provide support
and care services under the direction of a physician.

Imaging, Laboratory and Other Diagnostic Staff—Specially trained employees perform a range of diagnostic services
for both inpatients and outpatients. The services and tests they administer
include imaging (such as x-rays, sonograms and MRIs), bloodwork, pathology
and biopsy.

Rehabilitative Therapists—Physical, occupational and speech therapists are a few of the professionals
who provide services designed to restore movement, self-care and quality
of life to those with developmental, age and/or injury-related dysfunction
that impact daily living and/or communication.

Respiratory therapists care for patients who have trouble breathing—for example, from a
chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma, emphysema or cystic fibrosis.
Their patients range from premature infants with undeveloped lungs to
elderly patients who have diseased lungs. Some provide emergency care
to patients suffering from heart attacks, drowning, or inhalation trauma.

Case managers, social workers and care navigators assist with assessment, planning, facilitation, care coordination, evaluation,
and advocacy for options and services to meet an individual's comprehensive
health needs. They collaborate with other providers, local nonprofits,
government agencies, and other organizations to ensure patients have resources needed.

Hospital pharmacists—Pharmacists, in collaboration with pharmacy technicians, compound
sterile products for patients including medications given intravenously,
such as antibiotics and chemotherapy, and monitor and assess the safe
administration of oral and other medications and drugs.